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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Slow Times

I think I now have an answer to one of the most popular forum questions of the summer. It is a question that sits right along side of, "Why am I not selling?". In fact it's really the same question thinly veiled in sincere curiosity. "What do you do during this slow time?" See, the question points out that times are slow, which translates as, I'm not selling, so tell me what to do to change that. It comes off less whiny than the first question, but that does not change it's nature.

Well, sales have been slow for me as well and I, of course, started out wallowing in self pity, but then I opted to use the time to my advantage. I started working on new pieces and on duplicate pieces in anticipation of busier times. As a result of all this work, my store has reached 100 listings and I have several pieces ready for future venues. Now, I could have very easily spent this slow time wasting mine in the forums whining until it got me a pity sale. I could have fallen into a pit of self doubt and stopped working at all, but I think I chose well.

This convergence of slow sales and productivity may have an even better result as the holidays roll around. All my extra stock will allow me to rest more and create less as the stress of the busy time sets in. Which might mean that I can spend more time with my family without a tatting needle permanently attached to my hand. The moral of the story is, use every bit of time you are given because you never know when you'll get another free minute. Always move forward without dwelling on unpleasant circumstances. I am by no means an optimist, but I do know that no lasting good can come from whining and hard work is the best way to achieve your goals, whatever they may be.

I will be continuing to work on building up stock and I will spend very little time in the forums. I will come up with new designs and I will improve my skills. If I make a few sales along the way, well that's great, but I'm not going to let sales or the lack thereof derail me. I will use this slow time to my advantage, I will not let it beat me and you should not let it beat you either.

2 comments:

Great advice and profound wisdom!!! Thank you for sharing the benefit of your hard-fought experience. I could especially use this talking to tonight, as I've been feeling incredibly sorry for my apathetic self lately.

You're the best, babe.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I'm so sorry I missed it. I hope this next year finds the realization of some of your most heartfelt wishes, and brings wonderful surprises that enrich your life, just as your art enriches the world.